Long Term Storage Tips for Household Items

There are lots of reasons why people need to place their belongings in storage for an extended period of time. Sometimes it is easier to move things into storage during a major renovation. You may also do a lot of travelling for work, and sometimes it is easier and cheaper to rent a storage unit rather than an entire house or apartment. Whatever the reason, there are lots of times when people need to put regular household items into long term storage. To ensure these items remain in good working condition for when you need them again, there are some precautions you can take to keep them intact. Below you’ll find a list of common household items that are often put into storage, and what you can do to keep them in good condition.

Storing Coffee Makers

A staple in most homes, coffee makers sure do make mornings go by a lot easier. That’s why it would be a shame to discover your coffee maker is damaged after pulling it out of storage. To avoid this happening, you should make sure your coffee maker is completely rinsed and drained before you put it in storage. You should also be sure to use a descaling cleaner on any glass components, otherwise you may open up your coffee maker and see mold inside when you pull it out of storage.

Storage of Computers & Hard Drives

Storing any kind of electronic will require some measures be taken to ensure the machine stays completely dry at all times. For a computer, laptop or hard drive you can make sure they’ll stay dry by keeping their container high off the ground. You should also wrap a cotton sheet or canvas around the device as added protection from moisture.

Storing Rifles and Ammo

When storing any type of weapon and ammunition, you will need to make safety as well as security your number one priority. Most experienced gun owners are well aware of the necessary precautions that need to be taken when storing a gun. Cleanliness and dryness is a must to keep rifles and ammo rounds from rusting or corroding. It is also advisable to store weapons and ammo in a solid case near the rear of a storage unit so they remain out of sight in the rare event of theft. As an added precaution, you may want to invest in a trigger lock for your weapon before you store it.

Washing Machines Long Term Storage

A common theme when it comes to long term storage is dryness. Moisture or dampness of any kind in any household item or appliance can quickly lead to its ruin. That is why even for a large appliance like a washing machine, you need to set time aside to let the machine drain and dry completely before you store it. A good way to make sure you don’t lose any wires, hoses or other components of the washer is to store everything in the machine itself.

Storage of Power Generators

Whether you’re putting it away for a couple weeks, or a much longer period of time, there are some important steps you need to take when storing a gas powered generator with a motor. First, you should add a fuel stabilizer to the gas tank and run your generator for about 10 minutes before putting it away. If you are going to store it for less than a few weeks, simply turn the fuel valve to the ‘off’ position, and let the generator run until it has burned all the existing fuel. For long term storage, it is best to use up all the fuel in the tank, or drain it by releasing the drain bolt on the carburetor. Then cover the generator, and store it off the ground on some kind of skid or platform.

With these tips, you’ll be able to keep your belongings well maintained in storage, giving you peace of mind until you need them again. For more helpful storage tips like these, or to find out about rental rates for our clean, secure and convenient storage facilities, be sure to continue to check out our website. You can also contact us directly to reserve a storage space today.

Definitely worth the drive from Vancouver, it's run with the friendliness of a mom and Pop shop and the service and security of a billionaire's mansion. Love it.

Brodie Nash

15:18 25 Jun 17

The guys at Annacis lock up were great! Very helpful, professional and easy to deal with. I'd recommend them anytime. Thanks again.

Bruce Gamey

17:54 19 Oct 17

Very friendly staff.. good rates

Miroslav D

18:18 27 Feb 18

Good Service, Friendly Staff, Getting Pricy,

Bikram Nagi

20:51 20 Mar 18

I never write reviews, but the level of service I received from Annacis went above and beyond my expectations. Dwayne is incredibly helpful and kind, everything from assisting with the transport, pictures and even helping me when the battery died on my car.Again, Dwayne went above and beyond my expectations. If you have to store your loved belongings somewhere safe there is no better place in B.C than Annacis period.

Lord Horde

19:55 17 Jul 18

Clean, bright and secure. Helpful staff who will do everything possible to accommodate your needs for storage.

Steven Jeffrey

16:16 24 Sep 18

Great staff assistance, they were understanding about my leaving early. Good indoor or outdoor storage sites and sizes, secure gate can come & go as you please. Will reccomend

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Annacis Lock-Up is a public self storage company that provides state of the art solutions for the indoor & outdoor storage needs of our many customers from New Westminster, Delta, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, Surrey and Vancouver.